Integrated Pest Management Approach Research Articles

Transmission Electron Microscopy Observation of Morphological Changes to Cryptophlebia Leucotreta Granulovirus following Ultraviolet Irradiation.

Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV), a double-stranded DNA virus (genus Betabaculovirus, family Baculoviridae), is highly infective to the citrus insect pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta. The South African isolate CrleGV-SA is formulated into a commercial biopesticide and registered for use in several countries. In South Africa, it is used as a biopesticide in a multi-faceted integrated pest management approach for citrus crops involving chemical and biological control methods. The virus nucleocapsid is surrounded and protected by an occlusion body (OB) composed of granulin protein in a crystalline matrix. Like all other baculoviruses, CrleGV is susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. This reduces its efficacy as a biopesticide in the field and necessitates frequent respraying. UV damage to baculovirus biopesticides is detected by means of functional bioassays. However, bioassays do not give an indication of whether any structural damage has occurred that may contribute to functional loss. In this study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe damage to the OB and nucleocapsid (NC) of CrleGV-SA, following controlled UV irradiation in the laboratory to mimic field conditions. The resultant images were compared with images of non-irradiated CrleGV-SA virus. TEM images of irradiated CrleGV-SA samples revealed changes to the OB crystalline faceting, a reduction in the size of the OBs, and damage to the NC following UV exposure for 72 h.

Integrated pest management of Hypsipyla robusta shoot-tip borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Chukrasia tabularis (Sapindales: Meliaceae).

Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss produces a valuable timber but plantations are susceptible to attack by the shoot-tip borer Hypsipyla robusta Moore. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is desirable to limit the extent of damage. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the deployment of IPM measures in plantations in Vietnam. Data on tree damage and the biology of H. robusta were gathered in 4 provinces over one year and used to build an investigation schedule. Two preliminary IPM trials were then established in which Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium anisopliae were applied to the foliage when the damage incidence (P%) was in the range 5-10%; and insecticides (Carbaryl, Carbosulfan) were applied when the P% exceeded 10%. In addition, larvae and pupae were removed manually over time. In the first trial, the combination of manual and biological control methods reduced the damage index (DI) of trees from 4 tolerant families by 82% compared to the untreated control plots. In the second trial using standard planting stock, application of insecticides was required to reduce the DI by 83%. Six extended IPM trials were undertaken using the same IPM protocols and these reduced the DI to the same extent as in the preliminary trials. Over an 18-month period, the deployment of IPM increased height growth by 19-22% and diameter growth by 38-41% compared to the controls. These findings highlight the value of planting improved seed and the benefit of adopting an IPM approach to manage the shoot-tip borer.

Desiccant Dusts, With and Without Bioactive Botanicals, Lethal to Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the Laboratory and on Cattle.

The exotic southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), since its eradication from the United States in 1943, made a strong incursion into Texas, beginning 2016. The pest is arguably the most economically detrimental ectoparasite of cattle, Bos taurus L., worldwide. Current R. (B.) microplus control mostly relies on conventional synthetic acaricides to which the ixodid has been developing resistance. Our study demonstrates that commercially available desiccant dust products, with and without bioactive botanical additives, are strongly lethal, when applied dry, against larval R. (B.) microplus in the laboratory, and after being released on dust-treated cattle. Deadzone (renamed Celite 610, a diatomaceous earth product), Drione (silica gel + pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide synergist), and EcoVia (silica gel + thyme oil), each prophylactically prevented larval R. (B.) microplus from attaching to and feeding on stanchioned calves. Desiccant dust-based products are less likely than conventional synthetic acaricides to decline in terms of efficacy as a result of ixodid resistance, and other desiccant dust advantages, including extended residual, flexibility in terms of application methods, environmental, animal, and human safety, and possible compatibility with organic, or 'green', production systems, are discussed. We anticipate that the desiccant dusts we evaluated, and others not included in this study (e.g., kaolin, perlite, and silica gel) will be effective when used with other control tactics in integrated pest management approaches for controlling R. (B.) microplus (and other ixodid species).

Short communication: Varroa destructor re-invasion dynamics during autumn and winter in Apis mellifera colonies from a temperate climate

Infestation with Varroa destructor compromises the survival of Apis mellifera colonies, especially during the winter season. In order to prevent colony losses due to the presence of Varroa mites, determination of the infestation level and the application of autumn treatment is highly recommended. However, autumn reinvasion by inter-apiary and intra-apiary horizontal transmission might threaten the control strategies. Drivers like the infestation level of untreated colonies, the presence of bee brood during late autumn and the colonies disposition within the apiary might explain at least partially the re-invasion rates of treated colonies during autumn and winter. A total of six apiaries with five colonies were distributed within a 30 km radius. Colonies were arranged within each apiary following a circular or a lineal disposition. Twenty-four of the thirty colonies were treated during late summer against V. destructor and one colony per apiary remained untreated. The phoretic Varroa infestation and the adult bee population, brood area and nutritional reserves in the colonies was estimated before and after treatment and then for the next four months (late autumn and winter season). In this study, a model for the V. destructor re-invasion dynamics during autumn and winter in honey bee colonies from a temperate climate was fitted. According to these results, the re-invasion probability is higher for lineal disposition of the colonies that also present a higher amount of brood availability during late autumn and winter. Beekeeping practical implications are discussed in the context of an Integrated Pest management approach.

Effectiveness of Four Integrated Pest Management Approaches in the Control of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Mango Agro-Ecosystems in the South-Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso

Effectiveness of Four Integrated Pest Management Approaches in the Control of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Mango Agro-Ecosystems in the South-Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso

Rotenone induces mortality of invasive Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout embryos

AbstractObjectiveNonnative fish, including Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush and Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, are actively invading lakes and streams and threatening Cutthroat Trout O. clarkii and other native species in the western United States. Programs have been implemented to suppress invasive trout using netting, trapping, electrofishing, angling, or other traditional capture methods. Because these methods are costly and primarily target older, free‐swimming life stages, development of new suppression methods that target embryos on spawning areas is desired to increase suppression efficacy and reduce long‐term costs.MethodsWe evaluated the capability of rotenone, N‐methylpyrrolidone, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, and gelatin to induce mortality of Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout embryos in controlled laboratory experiments.ResultExposure to liquid and powdered rotenone formulations for 12 h at 4 mg/L caused 98% ± 0.7 (mean ± SE) and 99% ± 0.6 Lake Trout mortality, respectively. Exposure to liquid and powdered rotenone formulations for 12 h at 4 mg/L caused 62% ± 4.7 and 85% ± 3.2 Rainbow Trout mortality, respectively. N‐methylpyrrolidone, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, and gelatin exposures were not effective at increasing embryo mortality of either species.ConclusionDeveloping embryos represent a vulnerable life history stage that can be exploited by targeted applications of rotenone. Incorporating novel suppression techniques that effectively increase mortality of embryos in an integrated pest management approach may enhance effective suppression of invasive fishes.

Prevalence of Spiroplasma and interaction with wild Glossina tachinoides microbiota.

Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors of the tropical neglected diseases sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals. The elimination of these diseases is linked to control of the vector. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environment-friendly method that has been shown to be effective when applied in an area-wide integrated pest management approach. However, as irradiated males conserve their vectorial competence, there is the potential risk of trypanosome transmission with their release in the field. Analyzing the interaction between the tsetse fly and its microbiota, and between different microbiota and the trypanosome, might provide important information to enhance the fly's resistance to trypanosome infection. This study on the prevalence of Spiroplasma in wild populations of seven tsetse species from East, West, Central and Southern Africa showed that Spiroplasma is present only in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and Glossina tachinoides. In G. tachinoides, a significant deviation from independence in co-infection with Spiroplasma and Trypanosoma spp. was observed. Moreover, Spiroplasma infections seem to significantly reduce the density of the trypanosomes, suggesting that Spiroplasma might enhance tsetse fly's refractoriness to the trypanosome infections. This finding might be useful to reduce risks associated with the release of sterile males during SIT implementation in trypanosome endemic areas.

Potential use of sterile insect technique (SIT) against the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella

Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) is one of the most important stored products pests in the world. In Bangladesh, annual losses to different stored commodities occurs more than 20%. In this research, an environmentally safe & species specific method i.e. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) was applied as a part of integrated pest management approach. This experiment was done by implementing gamma irradiation (Cobalt-60) for sterilization of Indian meal moth to suppress the reproductive potential of the moth. The effects were more significant in F1 early progeny than parental generation because it was possible to suppress the egg production, hatchability & finally adult emergence successfully in F1 generation. The dose of radiation required to prevent fecundity of Plodia interpunctella from irradiated adults was 400 Gy in parental generation (P), whereas it was 300Gy & 400Gy in F1 generation in the present study. The hatchability would be prevented by the cross schedule of treated male with treated female (TM x TF). 400 Gy dose would be sufficient to control the hatchability of Indian meal moth both in P & F1 generation. Higher doses of radiation had a significant effect on adult emergence in F1 early progeny of the moth. Surprisingly, the number was zero for the cross schedule of normal female with treated male (NF x TM) & treated male with treated female (TM x TF) at all the selected doses except 50Gy in F1 early progeny in the present study. The 300Gy & 400Gy doses used in the present experiment would be sufficient to control the population of Indian meal moth.

Environment-Friendly Cotton Production through Implementing Integrated Pest Management Approach

Tremendous increases in pesticide use in cotton growing areas have severely affected the health of peoples and degraded environment [Poswal and Williamson (1998); Ahmad and Poswal (2000); Orphal 2001 and Khan (2000)]. Farmer Field School (FFS) based IPM implemented in the world to reduce dependence on pesticides and promote environmentally safe plant protection practices. An FFS-led Integrated Pest Management (IMP) model implemented in Pakistan during 1996—popularly known as “Vehari Model”, clearly demonstrated that IPM could be implemented on a large scale at the farm level. UNDP-FAO Policy Reform Project provided required policy level support to scale up the Farmer-led IPM in the country. Implementation of pesticide policy project in Pakistan highlighted that pesticide consumption increased from 665 metric tons in 1980 to 78,132 metric tons in 2003-4. The role of private sector in promoting the production and use of pesticides was found tremendously high. The private sector also took full advantage of government’s pesticide import liberalisation policies. One of the key components of dramatic increase in pesticide use in Pakistan is related to very soft import and registration at that time, which allowed the generic compounds registered elsewhere, to be imported without fieldtesting.

Response of foliage- and ground-dwelling arthropods to insecticide application: Early step for cotton IPM in the Brazilian semiarid

Foliage- and ground-dwelling arthropods provide ecosystem services, including decomposition and biological control of agricultural pests. Despite this, there is little information on the ground-dwelling arthropod community associated with cotton crops and about their role under pest control practices. Identifying these communities and their preservation would assist smallholder cotton growers in considering an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to pest control. In this context, the strategy of using selective- or broad-spectrum insecticides (both applied only once the pests reached an economic threshold) was assessed using field plots set up within non-Bt cotton structured refuge of a grower field measuring the response of both foliage- and ground-dwelling arthropods and yield. The abundance, species richness, dominance indices, and foliage-dwelling predators and pest species and ground-dwelling predators and decomposers were compared between untreated and insecticide treatments, as was the crop yield. In response to pest monitoring, insecticides were applied 5 and 3 times during the 2018 and 2020 growing seasons, respectively. In 2018 and 2020, 16 and 12 foliage-dwelling predator arthropods and 43 and 47 ground-dwelling predator and decomposer arthropods were collected, respectively. During the 2018 season, broad-spectrum insecticide applications reduced the abundance of foliage-dwelling predators, but had no significant impact on the ground-dwelling community. Principal response curves (PRC) indicated a negative impact of broad-spectrum insecticides only on the foliage-dwelling community, particularly among the Formicidae and Araneae species. Insecticide applications in the 2020 season were only required at the end of the crop season and did not significantly influence the foliage- or ground-dwelling communities. The selective insecticide regime yielded as well as the broad-spectrum insecticide regimes higher yielded than untreated plots. These results demonstrated to the small landholders engaging conservation biological control for the first time, the advantages of an IPM approach to pest management.

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces associated parasitic nematodes and their relationship with Xanthomonas wilt disease in Gurage, Ethiopia

Enset production in Ethiopia is constrainted by nematode disease. This study has examined the type, abundance and distribution of plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) and their relationship with Xanthomonas wilt of enset. Stratified random sampling technique was used to collect soil and root samples, and nematodes were extracted from the soil and fresh root samples. Eight nematode genera including. Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus, Meloidodera, Machroposthonia, Scutellonema and Xiphinema were recovered from the soil samples as well as Pratylenchus and Meloidogyne from the root samples. All roots and 87.7% of the soil samples possessed one or more nematode genus. Pratylenchus was the most abundant and frequently occurring nematode, accounting for 99.9% and 51.6 % of the total nematode density recovered from the root and soil samples, respectively. The studied enset landraces significantly differed in the nematode they harbored, of which Ageremremat, Shertye, Kibnar and Guarye were the top for Pratylenchu but was lowest on Lemat, Yiregiye, Beshute, Woka, Derewetye, Gufenwe, Charkma and Emirye landraces. Nematode density was significantly higher in samples collected from agro-ecologies at higher altitudes. Moroever, the density of Pratylenchus, Meloidogyne and Helicotylenchus, was remarkably higher on acidic compared with alkaline soils. Enset plants infected by Xanthomonas wilt showed significantly higher densities of Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Tylenchorhynchus. This study provided additional evidence on the distribution and level of damage caused by nematodes on enset crops that is important to all the relevant stakeholders across the crop's value chain in designing and implementing feasible integrated pest management approaches.

How does the digital transformation of agriculture affect the implementation of Integrated Pest Management?

Integrated pest management (IPM) has greatly influenced farming in the past decades. Even though it has been effective, its adoption has not been as large as anticipated. Operational issues regarding crop monitoring are among the reasons for the lack of adoption of the IPM philosophy because control decisions cannot be made unless the crop is effectively and constantly monitored. In this way, recent technologies can provide unique information about plants affected by insects. Such information can be very precise and timely, especially with the use of real-time data to allow decision-making for pest control that can prevent local infestation of insects from spreading to the whole field. Some of the digital tools that are commercially available for growers include drones, automated traps, and satellites. In the future, a variety of other technologies, such as autonomous robots, could be widely available. While the traditional IPM approach is generally carried out with control solutions being delivered throughout the whole field, new approaches involving digital technologies will need to consider adaptations in the concepts of economic thresholds, sampling, population forecast, injury identification, and ultimately the localized use of control tactics. Therefore, in this paper, we reviewed how the traditional IPM concepts could be adapted, considering this ongoing digital transformation in agriculture.

Influence of Effective Microorganisms on Some Biological and Biochemical Aspects of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Bosid.), is a major pest in African and Asian nations that attacks a wide variety of host plants. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the biological and physiological features of S. littoralis larvae. Five concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) of EMs were tested. Antifeedant activity, food consumption index, the efficiency of converting digested food, the efficiency of converting ingested food, relative growth rate, and approximate body tissue of the fourth larval instar of S. littoralis were determined. Moreover, carbohydrate enzyme activities (amylase, trehalose, and invertase), total protein, and total lipids of S. littoralis larvae were measured to elucidate the mode of action of the tested agent in the S. littoralis's larval stage. The EMs at 500 ppm had a substantial impact on antifeedant activity, nutritional indices, egg deposit reduction, and hatchability in S. littoralis during the five days. All concentrations interrupted S. littoralis's life cycle and developmental phases. Furthermore, all concentrations were quite useful in lengthening the developmental stages of S. littoralis. In addition, Ems affected the biochemical activities of larvae, leading to disturbances in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein levels. From this study, EMs can be used as a bioinsecticide alternative to traditional insecticides against S. littoralis and may be compatible with integrated pest management approaches.

Maize farmers’ knowledge and management of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frupigerda) in southwest Nigeria

This study investigated maize farmers’ knowledge, control methods, and perception of the invasive and highly destructive insect pest, fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in southwest Nigeria. A four-stage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 195 maize farmers in the study area. Data were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square test. The majority (88.7%) of respondents observed fall armyworm attack within two months after sowing, only 30.8% of them reported total damage to maize plants by fall armyworm. Most (75.9%) of the respondents could describe the destructive larval stage of fall armyworm, 58.5% of respondents exclusively applied synthetic insecticides for fall armyworm management. The most common insecticides used by respondents were organophosphates (37.2%), pyrethroids (29.0%) and avermectins (18.2%). Perception of fall armyworm damage as a serious and worrisome problem was very high (4.82) amongst maize farmers. Strong and significant association (χ2 = 41.3) was found between farmers’ agroecological zones and the severity of fall armyworm damage reported. Integrated pest management approach is a sustainable alternative to the sole use of insecticides and should be promoted. Information provided in the study will enhance decision-making for fall armyworm management interventions in southwest Nigeria.

Fish carcass deposition to suppress invasive lake trout through hypoxia causes limited, non‐target effects on benthic invertebrates in Yellowstone Lake

AbstractInvasive species can have negative effects on native biodiversity and ecosystem function, and suppression is often required to minimize the effects. However, management actions to suppress invasive species may cause negative, unintended effects on non‐target taxa. Across the United States, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are invasive in many freshwater ecosystems, reducing native fish abundance and diversity through predation and competition. In an integrated pest management approach, lake trout embryos in Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, are suppressed by depositing lake trout carcasses onto spawning sites; the carcasses reduce dissolved oxygen concentrations as they decay, causing embryo mortality. We conducted a field experiment during one ice‐free season at four sites in Yellowstone Lake to investigate the non‐target effects of carcass treatment on benthic invertebrates, which could have consequences for native fish diets. While overall invertebrate density and biomass did not respond to carcass treatment, Chironomidae midges and Sphaeriidae fingernail clams decreased in abundance. Carcass treatment altered invertebrate community structure based on density, but not biomass. Carcass treatment to suppress invasive fish embryos has spatially localized, non‐target effects on some benthic invertebrate taxa. Given the small spatial extent of carcass treatment within the lake, we conclude it is unlikely that carcass treatment will alter food availability for native fishes.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Beetle Lure (BFL 225) and Bullet Synthetic Multi-Attractant as Insect Baits in Untreated Grain Storehouses

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of synthetic general beetle lure and bullet synthetic multi attractant in trapping insects in untreated grain stores. Four grain stores (two each) in two major markets within Calabar metropolis, were sampled at random and selected for this research. Three groups of four traps each with sticky bases were treated as follows: Trap group “A” was treated with BFL225 pheromone multi-attractant, Trap group “B” was treated with bullet lure multi-attractant pheromone and Trap group “C” was untreated (control). This experiment was replicated on monthly basis for a period of eight months to also ascertain the influence of weather conditions on trapped insect population. Insects caught were identified base on the different trap efficacy and recorded following the method in Ukeh and Mordue, (2009). All traps were re-treated monthly for efficient trapping. Data obtained from the experiment were laid out as factorial in CRD and subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat statistical software (Version 6). Significant means were compared using LSD and DNMRT at 5 percent level of probability. Insects trapped and identified include Sitophilus spp , Corcyra ciphilonica, Tribolium castaneum and Callosobrochus maculatus. The treated trap groups (A and B) significantly (p<0.05) caught more insects than the untreated trap group (control). However, between the treated trap groups, the BFL 225 significantly (p<0.05) caught more insects than the bullet lure treated trap. The number of insets caught also varied significantly (p<0.05) with different months. The wet month of August significantly had the highest number of insects followed by June. The dry months of January and February also had high number of insects relative to the other months. The least number of insects caught were obtained in the months of April and May. The interaction between the trap treatment type and month was significant (p<0.05). Generally, higher number of insects were caught in both treated and untreated trap groups in the wet month (June – August) compared to other months. BFL 225 treated trap groups significantly caught the highest number of insects in August, followed by the bullet treated trap group and the untreated in the same month. The bullet lure treated traps caught the least number on insects in April and May and was not significantly (p<0.05) different from the number caught by untreated trap (control) in the month of April. The trap treated with BFL225 caught the highest number of insect. Hence, this research supports the use of BFL 225 as an efficient tool in integrated pest management approach for stored grains. Keywords: Beetle lure, Bullet synthetic, Insects, Pheromone, Treated traps. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-20-03 Publication date: October 31 st 2022

Mitigation of Emergent Bacterial Pathogens Using Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae as a Case Study—From Orchard to Gene and Everything in Between

Globalization propelled human migration and commercial exchanges at the global level, but woefully led to the introduction of non-indigenous organisms into several agroecological systems. These include pathogenic bacteria with devastating consequences for numerous crops of agronomical importance for food production worldwide. In the last decade, research efforts have focused on these noxious organisms, aiming to understand their evolutionary processes, degree of pathogenicity, and mitigation strategies, which have allowed stakeholders and policymakers to develop evidence-based regulatory norms to improve management practices and minimize production losses. One of these cases is the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the causal agent of the kiwifruit bacterial canker, which has been causing drastic production losses and added costs related to orchard management in the kiwifruit industry. Although Psa is presently considered a pandemic pathogen and far from being eradicated, the implementation of strict regulatory norms and the efforts employed by the scientific community allowed the mitigation, to some extent, of its negative impacts through an integrated pest management approach. This included implementing directive guidelines, modifying cultural practices, and searching for sources of plant resistance. However, bacterial pathogens often have high spatial and temporal variability, with new strains constantly arising through mutation, recombination, and gene flow, posing constant pressure to agroecosystems. This review aims to critically appraise the efforts developed to mitigate bacterial pathogens of agronomical impact, from orchard management to genome analysis, using Psa as a case study, which could allow a prompter response against emerging pathogens in agroecosystems worldwide.

Susceptibility of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to selected stored product insecticides in the Central region of Ghana

Sitophilus zeamais is a major pest of stored grains in Ghana and its control can be achieved through an Integrated Pest Management approach, which includes the judicious use of effective and selective insecticides. However, persistent use of synthetic protectants can cause insecticide resistance, militating against control. It is therefore important to monitor the effectiveness of these products to justify their continuous use and to detect the emergence of resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of two commonly used commercial insecticide products namely Agricombi® (30% fenitrothion + 10% fenvalerate) and Betallic Super® (80 g pirimiphos-methyl + 15 g permethrin) on adult S. zeamais populations from three districts in the Central region of Ghana. The median knockdown times (KT 50 s) of the products at their recommended label concentrations (RLCs) were 15.13–53.42 min for Agricombi® and 17.17–63.70 min for Betallic Super® while mortalities after 24 h of insecticide exposure were 52.00–80.00% and 21.33–58.67%, respectively. Concentration-response effect of the composite insecticide products showed median lethal concentrations (LC 50 s) of 8149–12827 mg/L for Agricombi® and 2638–4411 mg/L for Betallic Super®. Comparisons of the RLCs of the products and their respective LC 50 s and LC 95 s indicate decreased susceptibility in the weevil populations. The insecticides were ineffective against the S. zeamais populations at their recommended label concentrations. The decreased susceptibilities pose challenges for effective management of the pest and hence the need for alternative effective management methods or products with different active ingredients in these communities. • Insecticidal activity on adult Sitophilus zeamais in Ghana was assessed. • Agricombi® and Betallic Super® were used for the assays. • At their recommended rates, Agricombi® induced a faster S. zeamais knockdown. • Mortality of adult Sitophilus zeamais was 21.33–80.00%. • S. zeamais from the sampled districts were resistant to the insecticides.

Integrated Pest Management of Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and the Rhizosphere in Agroecosystems.

Simple SummaryThe name ‘wireworm’ refers to the subterranean larvae of click beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) species, of which several are serious pests of a wide range of crops. The limited effectiveness of the available insecticides, their wide host range, their long life cycle, and their cryptic subterranean habitat make wireworms a challenging pest to control. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies have been recommended to reduce wireworm damage. Although IPM is generally considered to be an approach that is relatively more compatible with the environment and non-target organisms, the implementation of some of the tactics of managing subterranean wireworms is expected to induce stress in the rhizosphere and the established ecological interactions within, some of which could negatively impact various soil health parameters and, subsequently, plant growth. In this paper, we highlight some of the IPM tactics against wireworms and their effects on the rhizosphere and soil microbiome. Awareness of the potential impacts of IPM approaches to the management of subterranean pests will help professionals to develop and implement IPM strategies that minimize disturbance in the rhizosphere and support agroecosystem sustainability.The rhizosphere is where plant roots, physical soil, and subterranean organisms interact to contribute to soil fertility and plant growth. In agroecosystems, the nature of the ecological interactions within the rhizosphere is highly dynamic due to constant disruptions from agricultural practices. The concept of integrated pest management (IPM) was developed in order to promote an approach which is complementary to the environment and non-target organisms, including natural enemies, by reducing the sole reliance on synthetic pesticides to control pests. However, some of the implemented integrated cultural and biological control practices may impact the rhizosphere, especially when targeting subterranean pests. Wireworms, the larval stage of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are generalist herbivores and a voracious group of pests that are difficult to control. This paper introduces some existing challenges in wireworm IPM, and discusses the potential impacts of various control methods on the rhizosphere. The awareness of the potential implications of different pest management approaches on the rhizosphere will assist in decision-making and the selection of the control tactics with the least long-term adverse effects on the rhizosphere.

In-vitro Compatibility of Some Native Isolates of Trichoderma spp. with Commonly used Pesticides

Trichoderma is an effective bio-control agent against a wide range of disease-causing pathogens of various crops and potential to be integrated into the disease management program. The study was conducted to find out the compatible pesticide/s with Trichoderma for integrated pest management (IPM). This study includes in-vitro evaluation of four chemical fungicides (carbendazim, copper-oxychloride, captan and tebuconazole + sulphur), three chemical insecticides (malathion, imidachlorpid and chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin) and one botanical insecticide (azadirachtin) for compatibility with seven different native isolates and two known species of Trichoderma through poisoned food technique. Copper-oxychloride was found compatible with all the tested isolates. In contrast, carbendazim and tebuconazole + sulphur were found incompatible. The insecticides, malathion, imidachlorpid, chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin, azadirachtin and the fungicide, captan showed some degree of compatibility. It is concluded that the tested Trichoderma isolates and the given species could be used together in combination with the given compatible fungicide such as copper-oxychloride and the given insecticides. These results would be helpful to set out the possibility of combining Trichoderma spp. as a biocontrol agent with pesticides to be used through IPM approach.